What can you say about Arnhem Land’s Yothu Yindi that hasn’t already been said?

After arriving on the scene back in 1986, their traditional Yolngu culture was always at the fore, whether it was in the song-writing, or in their live performances.

For more than 20 years they’ve entertained, and released six albums, adding to that total recently with the retrospective Healing Stone: The Best of Yothu Yindi.

During their career they visited an astounding 30 countries, sharing Yolngu culture through music.

The accolades accumulated over the years; a Human Rights Songwriting Award for 'Treaty', which was also named one of the top 30 Australian songs of all time, and eight ARIA awards. Lead singer Dr Yunupingu was named Australian of the Year in 1993.

To document individual members' achievements outside of the music is impossible. Though true to the lyrics in Yothu Yindi songs, education is the mandate—which harks back to Dr Yunupingu's experience working in schools.

In December 2012 the ultimate recognition for an Australian band was bestowed unto Yothu Yindi—after 26 years together the Australian Recording Industry Association inducted Yothu Yindi into their Hall of Fame.

Listen to this episode of AWAYE! using the link above to find out more.

Credits

Comments (2)

AgFed :

03 Jun 2013 10:51:42pm

It is wonderful that his potent contribution to his family, local community and to the wider Australian society has been noted and lauded. Now we need to close the gap and make sure that his preventable death at 57 from renal failure is seen as the very real tragedy that it is. Let not accept that it will be repeated far too often in far too many indigenous communities.Vale Dr Yunupingu.

andrew tilley :

04 Jun 2013 12:00:46pm

I was privileged to meet Galarrwuy Yunupingu while working on Gove in 1972. He welcomed me into the circle of his family and the larger Yolgnu community this included all his sisters and younger brothers.They were all musical but one of these stood out for his fun and warmth. We all went hunting and fishing together, sometimes on foot in my old bomb of a landowner in the little dipul "tinnie " belonging to their dad and on my motor bike.They taught me as much Gomatj as I could absorb. When I eventually left everyonecame to see me off at the airport and all the girls made a fuss off taking a clean handy so they could wipe their tears away. I've maintained the friendship and repeated my happy experience to many people. My boys heard all my Galarrwuy Yunupingu stories over and over, they all have a few words of Gomatj and have benefited from that generosity that is so evident in the lives of the sons of Mungerowie Yunupingu. This generosity is no where more evident than in the spirit behind Yothu Yindi . The conflict is that it was not reciprocated . The singer belted out his plea for treaty, treaty ma and their mistreatment by politicians promises like writing in the sand. The Yolgnu culture is based on two 'moeities ' living together. Dhua and Yirritya two different views about every aspect of their culture, every story every important rock has two different stories. But one story is no more important than the other just different but respected as a necessary part of the whole. This is the message behind Yothu Yindi and Garma -two cultures living together with mutual understanding and respect. The image is of a great fresh water river as it flows out into the sea staying intact while travelling out into the ocean, just as the salty tidal flow come back into the broad river estuaries .Our dear beautiful little brother has left his frail body we are left saddened but strengthened to understand his vision.